Headphones combine good sound, sleek design

The British audio company KEF has been making speakers and studio monitors for more than 50 years, but it only recently turned its attention to headphones.

That half-century of craftsmanship really shows in KEF's M500 on-ear headphones, which provide great style, comfort and sound. At $300, the M500 headphones are aimed at the higher end of the consumer market. They are available directly from KEF or through retailers like Best Buy and Amazon.com.

The headphones, which won a 2013 Red Dot design award, are elegant yet simple. The lightweight aluminum frame and memory foam ear cushions make the headphones comfortable to wear, even for extended periods. A flexible headband and multidirectional hinge above the ear cups allow the headphones to easily adapt to different head sizes. They can also swivel to lie flat or fold up for storage in a supplied carrying case.

KEF paid attention to the function of the M500 headphones, too. Internal high-fidelity speakers include a 40-millimeter neodymium driver that delivers a clean bass and a full range of sound. A detachable, tangle-free cord plugs into most mobile devices, and a 6.3-millimeter adapter is provided for connection to conventional hi-fi equipment. A second cord has an Apple-enabled in-line remote control with volume buttons and a microphone for phone calls.

Sound through the headphones is vivid and full. On-ear headphones usually don't offer a good seal, but these do a remarkable job of blocking noise. And they are comfortable.

The in-line remote control has tiny buttons and can be hard to press. Still, that's a minor quibble; overall, the M500 headphones are a solid entry for KEF.